AIRPORT chiefs insist changes to drop-off parking will make life easier for passengers - once people get used to them.

The promise came as scores of motorists calling at Durham Tees Valley Airport were stung by £5 charges for parking for just a few minutes.

The airport has introduced a new specific “drop-off” parking area separate from the main long-stay facilities. Many drivers went the traditional way and ended up in the long-stay car park - and were charged £5 to get out. They had stayed only a few minutes, which previously would have been free.

Managing director Hugh Lang said: “Over recent months there have been quite a lot of changes to the parking arrangements at the airport and one of our main objectives was to provide an area specifically for vehicles wanting to stay for only a short period, for example to either drop off passengers or pick them up from incoming flights.

“The new changes are clearly signed but inevitably there has been some degree of confusion which I hope will quickly be resolved. I would simply ask anyone coming to the airport to make sure they look carefully for the signs.”

Some of the drivers who contacted the Gazette claimed there had been up to 80 or 90 cars held up - and insisted the signs were far from obvious.

Derek Rees, 72, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, said: “I was three minutes in and out and I had to pay £5. There was no notice on the gate. There was just a little sign outside that no one would have noticed. There were so many people had the same problem.” Pat Hodges, 48, from Thornaby, said: “All it needed was one person to say we are not paying and everyone else behind would have been stuck.

“I said straight away to my daughter we have no option but to pay. It was absolutely horrendous.”

Vic Paylor, 60, a retired administrative worker of Fairfield, Stockton, was caught out by the £5 charge after dropping of his nephew at the airport.

He said: “I had a pair of leisure shorts on and not a single penny on me. I wasn’t even in my own car.

“I’ve been going to this airport for the last year. I drove in, I was literally two minutes. I had no money, no phone.”

Vic eventually found an airport worker who went and found his nephew who had £5.

He added: “It was humiliating. It was embarrassing.”

There will be no charge for drivers using the “drop-off pick-up” area for up to 10 minutes.

The charge from 10 to 30 minutes will be £1 - half the previous charge - and remain at £3 for between 30 and 60 minutes. Key rates for a week and a fortnight remain unchanged.